Cottesloe Native Garden

Cottesloe Native Garden has been a project area for Cottesloe Coastcare since 2006. It is a special place as it is the only site in Cottesloe where there is such richness of local native remnant plant species. The limestone outcrops through the site provide a special habitat to many plant species which grow at no other places in our town.

The project area is enclosed by the green line. There is more information about this project underneath the map.

Mary and Eddie Edwards were the first to care for this patch of remnant vegetation and weeded and planted with a small group of volunteers in the early 1980’s. The children of Seaview Kindergarten also planted here.

In 1983 the naturalist Robert Powell identified 37 local native plant species. In October 2006, representatives of 30 local plants remained, despite massive weed infestation. Among the remaining plants, 8 species had less than 6 specimens remaining. For one very beautiful species Scaevola anchusifolia, the sole remaining plant in Cottesloe was in Cottesloe Native Garden. We are delighted to report that with the help of Kings Park and Botanic Garden, cuttings were taken and eight plants were grown. One stock plant was given to ‘Nuts about Natives Nursery’ in Beenup. Seven other silky scaevola seedlings were planted in Cottesloe Native Garden near the solo parent plant and are flourishing. Read more on our blog here.

By 2017 approximately 40 Silky Scaevola plants have grown well and flower each year.We hope that they will set seed as time passes.

CCA (And Town of Cottesloe) use the guidelines in Cottesloe’s NAMP and the NAMP Addendum I to manage work at Cottesloe Native Garden, as at CCA’s other project areas.

Pest control – Rabbit baiting stations (pindone oats) are set up each summer with good results. Town of Cottesloe has funded all herbicide work and all pest control at this site.

Revegetation – every year since 2009 – CCA has planted approximately 500 native seedlings, using local provenance seed, collected and cleaned by CCA. Many species are specific only to this one natural area in Cottesloe – including Lechenaultia linariodes, Scaevola anchusifolia and Xanthorrhoea preissii.

Weedy tea tree removed and planting started 2009

Same area in 2012

2015 another area of weedy tea tree removed

The same area in 2017

Lechenaultia linarioidesOur beautiful local yellow leschenaultia

Scaevola anchusifoliaOur beautiful local form of silky fan flower at Cottesloe Native Garden